Hunting automobile torpedo



E. MEITNER AND A. C. MABY.

HUNTING AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1918. I

1,401,628.; Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- II "II" I I I IL E. MEITNER AND A. C. MABY.

HUNTING AUTOMOBILE TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8, 1918.

1,401,628,, Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE."

ELEMER MEITNER, OF BROOKLYN, AND AJJELIBERT. C. MABY, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE SPERRY GYROSGOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

HUNTING AUTOMOBILE 'I'ORPEDO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELEMER 'MErr-NER and ADELBERT C. MABY, a subject of the King of Hungary and a citizen of the United States, respectively, residing. at Brooklynand Richmond 'Hill, respectively, in the counties of Kings and Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hunting Automobile Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to automobile torpedoes, and has for its object, to increase the effectiveness of such weapons, more especially when used in battle against an opposing fieet of war ships.

In naval battles at present, large numbers of torpedoes are discharged against the opposing fleet with little or no effect. The tor pedoes travel in a straight line, and if they do not make a direct hit, pass on until they become exhausted and then sink. l According to our invention, the torpedo proceeds as at present, and is adjusted, in the event that it should travel a predetermined distance without scoring a hit, t turnand proceed to run in circles of predetermined diameter, until it strikes an object or becomes exhausted. By this means, a large number of torpedoes may be made to pass back and forth across the path of an opposing battle fleet. for causing the torpedo to assume a zigzag Practice has shown that to aim a torpedo at a particular ship at long battle range, is futile as regards direct results. What the torpedo does do, however, is to render the enemys course a hazardous one for his ships in general. Under the present practice a torped crosses the enemys path but once. If each torpedo describes five circles before running down, it will cross the path ten or more times, and to this extent, perform the work often or more torpedoes, thus greatly increasing the hazardousness of the enemys course and increasing his losses due to torpedoes in practically the same proportion.

A further objectof the invention is to render more effective torpedo attacks upon an enemys ship from the rear, by increasing the width of the target, which is at present confined t width of the ship, to the length thereof.

Referring to the drawings wherein we Specification of Letters Patent. Patented De 27, 1921. Application filed February is, 1913. Serial No. 217,795.

have shown what we now consider to be, the

preferred form of our invention:

-F1gure 1 is a plan view partlyinsection ofthe rear portion of a torpedo, showing a art of the steering mechanism.

1g. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the torpedo containing a part of the steering mechanism.

1g. 3 1s a detail of means for disconnecting the automatic steering mechanism and for causing the rudders to be thrown and held to one side.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a revolution counter adapted to be actuated by the torpedo. driving shaft to release for peration the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 after the torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance.

F 1g. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the application of my invention to an electrically controlled steering mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for actuating the electrical control means for causing the rudder t be turned and held to one side.

Fig. 7 is a modification shown diagrammatically of means for causing the torpedo to advance, while turning, toward the front or rear of the enemys battle line.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the course. of the torpedo as effected by the means shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a further modification of means course when aimed toward an enemy ship from the rear.

Fig. 10 is a diagram of the course of the torpedo under the control of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9.

In the drawings 1 represents the torpedo shell, having the usual propellers 2 and depth rudders 3. The course steering rudder is shown at 4, adapted to be actuated through a ltiller arm 5 and operating rod 6 by the usual air operated engine or cylinder 7. The valve for admitting air to one side or the other of cylinder 7 to effect the turning of the rudder to one side or the other is represented at 8 and is in turn actuated through a stem 9 connected to parallel linkage 10. This linkage constitutes a portion of the automatic steering mechanism. The

manner in which the parallel linkage is actuated and. controlled by the drive shaft tion 14'.

tween cross bars '13 and -14 into the 33 and the steering gyroscope 11 respectivel is well known in the art and therefore wi 1 not be described here. It is well known that the reciprocatory movements of valve stem 9 control the position of the rudders 4 to keep the torpedo on a straight course.

In carrying out our invention we have shown valve stem 9 as comprising two sections 9 and 9". (See also Fig. 3.) Section 9" is shown as connected directly to the valve 8, and may be provided with a frame 12 secured thereto having three cross bars 13, 14 and 15. 'Section 9 is shown as connected to the parallel linkage 10, and may be provided with upwardly projecting pins 16 to enga e cross bar 15.

Above rame 12 we have shown a member 17 projecting downwardly from a plate 18 which is held against a second plate 19 by means of a collar 21 resting on the top of plate 19 and fixed on a stem 22 passin through plate 19 and which is integral wit plate 18. Projecting upwardly from plate 19 is a sleeve 23 fitting over a sleeve 24 secured to and projecting downwardly from the top of the torpedo 1. A pin 25 on sleeve 23en 'gsleeve24inaslot26maybe provi ed to prevent rotation of plate 19. A spring 27 ressing at one end against plate 19 and at t e other against member 28 tends to force lates 19 and 18, and member 17 downwa y, but is prevented from doing so bly a pin 29 fixed to plate 19 and resting on t e upper side of a disk like member 30 (Fig. 4) w'hichis revolved by differential gearing 31 and a train of reduction gears or revolution counter 32 which is in turn actuated by the torpedo driving shaft 33. A notch 34 is shown in the disk 30, which, when it is turned around to pin 29, will allow said pin to slip through and rmit member 17 to be forced by spring 2 downwardl beotted line position 17, thus forcing section 9" out of working engagement with section 9 andalt the same t1me engagin cross bar 14 and moving it into the dotte line posi- Thus it will be seen that section 9" of the valve stem will drawn out and locked permanently in such osition, thereby admitting air to one side 0? cylinder 7 and tilting rudder 4 to one side where it will remaln and cause the torpedo to run in circles.

The distance which the torpedo shall travel under the guidance of the steering gyroscope before beginning to run in circles, may be varied by varying the distance through which notch 34 must move before reaching pin 29. This may be done byturning one of the bevel gears 35 of the difi'erential gearing 31. This may be done by the turnl of the nut or head 36 of shaft 37 of sai gear 35.

- dotted line position 11 The direction in which the rudder shall be made to tilt may also be determined and the proper adjustment made at any time prior to the launching of the torpedo. For this purpose we have shown means for tuming member 17 around to the dotted line position 17, so that when it is forced downwardly it will assume the dotted line position 17" so as to enga cross bar 13 and move it into the dotted line position 13'. Obviously the air will be admitted to the opposite side of cylinder 7 and effect the opposite tilting of rudder 4, V

The turning around of member 17 may be accomplished by turning stem 22 through counter stem 22'. Plate 18 and member 17 are normally held against rotation relative to plate 19 by a spring presed pin 38 in said plate 19 engaging plate 18 in a depression 39. When member 17 is turned around, pin 38 will slip into depression 40 and prevent accidental turning.

When section 9" of the valve stem is in the dotted line position 9, it may be allowed to continue to move back and forth under the end of member 17 without producing any results.

In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown our invention applied to a torpedo in which the automatic s mechanism is in part electrically operated. In Fig. 5 the valve stem 9 is shown as attached to the core 41 of a solenoid 42 having two windings 43 and 44. A conta'ct 45 adapted to be stabilized in azimuth by gyroscopic or other means not shown and adapted to cooperate with contacts 4647 secured to the torpedo may be provided to complete an electric circuit through one or the other of coils 43 and 44 to shift the position of core 41 to operate valve 8 in one direction or the other.

At 48 we have shown a switch having an arm 49 pivoted at 50 and having a roller 51 for engagement with contacts 52, 53 and 54. When the arm 49 is in the central position as shown, the steerin of the torpedo is adapted to be automatically controlled by the contacts 45, 46 and 47, but when roller 51 engages contacts 52 or 54, the above mentioned control will be discontinued and coil 43 or 44 will become energized and remain so, thus causing the steering rudder to be turned and held permanently to one side.

For throwing roller 51 into engagement with contacts 52 or 54, we have shown a member 117 adapted to be forced downwardly in the same manner as member 17 in Fig. 3. In Fig. 6 the switch is shown in section, taken on line 6-6 Fi 5. It will readily be seen that when mem r 117 drops, it will engage and rotate arm 49 about plvot 50 and move roller 51 into engagement with contacts 54 or 52 depending upon whether said member 117 is in the solid line osition shown or the In this form, the revolution counter for releasing member 117 may be the same as that shown in Fig. 4 and therefore, need not be shown beyond, the differential gearing 31. In this form, however, we have shown the adjustments to the differential gearing for varying the distance that the torpedo will travel before beginning to run in circles, and to member 117 for fixing the direction in whichthe rudders shall be tilted, as adapted to be made through one port 55. For this purpose shaft 37 is provided with a gear 56, meshing with a gear 57 pinned on a sleeve 58. The said sleeve protrudes into recess 55 and is provided with a head 59 adapted to be turned by means of any suitable tool. The turning ofthis sleeve, then, will fix the distance to be traveled by the torpedo before it begins to run in circles. Through sleeve 58 we have shown a counter stem 122 for turning stem 122 to reverse the position of member 117 as shown by dotted lines 117'.

In Figs. 7 and 8 we have illustrated a modification of our invention wherein the torpedo may approach the opposing battle line from the side as previously pointed out, but instead of traveling repeatedly in the same circle, may be made to advance toward the forward or rear end of the battle line as shown by the solid line course 60 (Fig. 8) or the dotted line course 61 respectively of the tor edo.

ile this may be accomplished by either an electrical or mechanical system, we have deemed it suflicient to show only an electrical system (see Fig. 7). In this form we prefer to employ a type of combined valve and piston 62 wherein any movement of the valve will be followed by a corresponding movement of the piston. The valve rod 9' is shown as secured to a core 41 of solenoid 42'. centralizing springs 63 and 64 pressing against a collar 65 pinned on rod 9 and against stops 66 fixed on base 67 may be provided for keeping the valve and consequently -the rudder normally in their central positions, while the energization of one orthe other of windings 43' and 44 will cause the rudder to be turned to one side or the other.

The azimuth control gyroscope is shown at 68 and the switch which is adapted to be automat-icalily thrown to cause the torpedo to travel in circles at 49. The mechanism for actuating the said switch may be the same as is shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The normal control of the rudder 4 through coils 43' and 44 is the same as that shown and described in connection with Fig. 5. In the present form, however, we desire to have the rudder 4 straighten out for a short period after the completion of each circle. For this purpose we have shown two sets of contacts 69-70 and 69-70 in the path of the roller 71 The contacts in each of these sets are placed so closely together that when roller 71 passes over them it will touch both contacts at the same time, thus closing a circuit through a solenoid 72 to actuate core 73. Secured to said core is a rod 74 which terminates in the piston 75 of a dash pot 76. A pin 77 on rod 74 is shown engaging a slot 78 provided in arm 79. Said arm is pivoted at 80 and carries at one end a brush 81 adapted to engage two contacts 82 and 83. Also fixed on arm 79 is a contact 84 cotiperating with a fixed contact 85. A spring 86 attached to arm 79 and to a relatively fixed member 87 may be provided for automatically tending to maintain said arm in the full line position, bridging contacts 82-83 and closing contacts 84-85. In the path of arm 79 as it rotates on its pivot, we have shown a pivoted latch 88 held normally by a spring 89 in the position shown. This latch also forms the armature of a magnet 90. In circuit with said magnet are shown contacts 69-70 or 69-70' and contacts 91'-92 on arm 79 and latch 88 respectively. The operation of the system shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is as follows.

After the torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance and switch 49 has been thrown so as to remove the control of coils 43 and 44 from the steering gyroscope, and to energize one or the other of said coils, the torpedo will as we have seen, begin to turn. As the several contacts associated with the steering gyroscope move therearound contacts 69-70 or 69'-70 will become closed, thus energizing solenoid 72. This will cause arm 79 to be moved into the dotted line position 79*, breaking'contacts 82-83 and 84-85. The breaking of the first of these contacts will denergize solenoid 42 and permit springs 63-64 to centralize the valve and consequently the rudder 4 and cause the torpedo to assume a straight course as shown at 93 at right angles to the original course 94. The breaking ofv contacts 84-85 deinergizes solenoid 72, so that the spring 86 may begin to return arm 79 to its normal position. The dash pot 76 is designed to retard this returning so as to prevent the reclosing of contacts 82-83 until a short period of time has elapsed. During this period, the torpedo will proceed along the straight course 93, but as soon as said contacts'are again closed, it will be seen that the torpedo will resume its circuitous route. Contacts 69-70 will then pass beyond roller- 71. Latch 88 now engages arm 79 and holds it in the dotted line position 7 9 preventing the closing of contacts 84-85, so that when roller 71 engages contacts 69-7(l, solenoid 72 will not become energized. WVhen said roller 71 engages said contacts 69- 0, however, it will be noted that magnet will become energized, withdrawing latch 88 and allowing arm 79 to continue toward its normal position. This will allow contacts 69'70' to pass beyond roller 71 beforecontacts '84.85 are closed. The latter contacts will, however, be closed before contacts 6970 are again closed, so that when the torpedo reaches the point 95 in its course,

it will assume a strai ht course and the above described cycle w1ll be re eated. 7

When the torpedo is adjusts to turn in the opposite direction so as to advance toward the other end of the battle line as shown by the dotted lines 96, it will be seen that contacts 69'70 will perform the function previously performed by contacts 6970, and vice versa, while the rest of the mechanism will function asbefore.

In Figs. 9 and 10, we have shown another modification of our invention. In this form the torpedo may be launched from a oint directly behind an enemy ship; being aimed a little to one side thereof as shown by the torpedos course at 97, and adjusted to assume a zigzag course 98 when it nears its target,-so as to pass back and forth across the enemys course 99. The torpedo may be adjusted to travel a straight course until it is abreast the target and then turn in toward it. Or it may begin to zigzag before it overtakes the enemy as shown in the drawing. In this manner it will be seen that, while the width of a ship presents a very small target, the length of the ship is now made the lateral dimension of the target, and, moreover, the torpedo is given several chances to score.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing result .is shown diagrammatically in Fi 9. Here the normal control of the torpedo is effected by the gyroscope 68 moving the roller 71 into en agement with contacts 46' and 47 as be ore. The lead 100 from roller 71 to the source of electrical energy 101 is shown as including a pair of spaced contacts 102 and 103, bridged b a bar 104. This 'bar is shown under an at right angles to. pivoted arm 49. A. pin 105 fixed to bar 104 may project upwardly sufficiently far to engage said arm 49, so that when the latter swin about its pivot 50', bar 104 will be move to the dotted line position 104', breaking the connection between the source of supply and the roller 71. Pin 105 should, of course, have non-conducting engagement with arm 49 so that when contacts 102-104 are broken, current will not pass from arm 49' to roller 71.

Arm 49' is shown as provided with a slot 106 engaging a pin 107 on a stem 108 at tached to the core 109 of solenoid 110, provided with windings 111 and 112.

'The differential gearing and timing mechanism 31 is shown as supporting an arm 29' normally in the solid hne position, against" the pull of sprin' 113. When slot 34 reaches other hand energize coil 43 and cause the.

torpedo to turn to one side. When contacts 120 and 121 reach roller 71, coil 112 will become energized and throw roller 51 into engagement with contact 54 and cause the torpedo to begin to turn toward the opposite side. The rudder will again be reversed when contacts 123 and 124 reach roller 71, and thus, the torpedo will run back and forth until it becomes exhausted.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have herein described the principle of operation of our invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and other omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use. 1

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a torpedo, means for steering said torpedo; in a subdzantially straight course, means brought into action after said torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance for changing the course thereof, and means for causing said torpedo to periodically describe a circle along its new course.

2. In an automobile torpedo, a rudder, a piston, means connecting said rudder and said piston, a valve for said iston, an actuating rod for said valve, e ectrical means for actuating said rod, means adapted to be automatically controlled for controlling said electrical means, and 'means for rendering said automatically controlled means inoperative and. for controlling said electrical means.

3. In an automobile torpedo, a rudder, a piston, means connecting said rudder and piston, a valve for said piston, an actuating rod for said valve, electrical means for actuating said rod, means adapted to be automatically controlled for controlling said electrical means, means for rendering said automatically controlled means inoperative and means without the torpedo for adjusting said disconnecting means.

4. In an automobile torpedo, a rudder, a piston, means connecting said rudder and said piston, a valve for said piston, an actuating rod for said valve, electrical means for actuating said rod, means adapted to be automatically controlled for controlling said electrical means and means governed by the distance traveled by the torpedo for rendering said automatically controlled means inoperative and for controlling said electrical means.

5. In an automobile torpedo, a rudder, automatically controlled means for actuating said rudder for causing said torpedo to travel in a substantially straight line, and means brought into action after said torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance for alternately shifting said rudder to one side and straightening out the same.

6. In an automobile torpedo, a rudder, means for actuating said rudder, a gyroscope for controlling said means, means brought into action after said torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance for controlling said rudder actuating means independently of said gyroscope, and means brought into action by the position of said torpedo for causing said gyroscope to render said controlling means inoperative.

7. In an automobile torpedo, a rudder, an engine for actuating said rudder, means for controlling said engine for steering said torpedo in a substantially straight line, means brought into action after said torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance, for steering said torpedo in a circuitous route, and means brought into action after each com: plete circle described by said torpedo in its route for straightening out said rudder fora limited period.

8. The combination with a torpedo having propelling means and a rudder, of means for steering said torpedo in a straight course, means brought into action after said torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance for changing the course thereof, and means for causing said torpedo to periodically describe a lateral circle along its new course.

"9. In an automobile torpedo, a" rudder, a steering engine, means for controlling said engine for normally steering said torpedo in a substantially straight course, means adapted to become operative after said torpedo has traveled a predetermined distance for, controlling said engine for changing the course of and for steering said torpedo in a circuitous route, and means connected with said first mentioned controlling'means for rendering inoperative said second mentioned controlllng means whenever said torpedo reaches a predetermmed position and retarded action means for again rendering said second mentioned controlling means 0perative.

10.- In combination, a torpedo, steering means therefor, a gyroscope adapted to control said means, delayed action means for controlling said steering means independently of said gyroscope and means associated with said gyroscope for intermittently rendering said delayed action means inoperative.

11. In combination, a torpedo, means for steering said torpedo in a predetermined course and means for causing said torpedo to periodically describe a circle along said 12. In combination, an automobile torpedo, a steering rudder, automatic control means for said rudder, means for disconnecting said control means, and means responsive to thedistance traveled by the torpedo for causing said rudder to be thrown to one side. I

'13. In an automobile torpedo including a rudder and an actuating engine therefor, means for controlling said engine to normally centralize said rudder, means responsive to deviations of the torpedo from a straight course for controlling the action of said engine, means responsive to the distance traveled by the torpedo for further controlling the action of said engine.

14.'In an automobile torpedo, a steering rudder therefor, means for normally causing said rudder to be centralized, means responsive to deviations of the torpedo from a straight course for causing said rudder-to turn to one side, additional means responsive to the distance traveled by the torpedofor causing said rudder to be turned to one side, and means brought into action by turning of the torpedo through a predeterm ned are for causing said rudder to be centralized again.

15. In an automobile torpedo, means for steering said torpedo in .a straight course, means responsive to the distance traveled for steering said torpedo in a clrcular course, and means brought into action after the torpedo has traveled through a complete circle for causing the torpedo to travel in some other course.

16. In combination, an automobile torpedo, a steeringrudder therefor, means for actuating said rudder, a gyroscope for controlling said means,.means controlled by the distance traveled by thetorpedo for causing said rudder to be held to one side, and means controlled by said gyroscope'for thereafter intermittently causing said rudder to be shifted.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

ELEMiER MEITN ER. ADE-LBERT C. MABY. 

